Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
